The new A38 Dobwalls bypass is being used by the Highways Agency to pilot the use of special structures to help bats find their way across the new road, as one of a series of measures to reduce the environmental impact of the new road.

Drivers using the existing A38 will have passed under one of the new "bat bridges" which consists of a metal structure with wires and mesh stretched in a V-shape.

The new structures have replaced the hedges that, ecologists believe, bats would follow using echo location to find their way to and from their roosts. The bats can now follow the structures, at a safe height above the traffic. The pilot project involves monitoring the structures for a period of five years

Highways Agency Environmental Advisor, David Hinde, said:

"We want to reduce the impact of roads on the environment so it is important to continually search for better ways to reduce the impact of road schemes on protected species such as bats.

"As this is a relatively new concept, Dobwalls has provided us with a timely opportunity to study how bats may benefit from these types of features. The trial will help us to refine our future plans for dealing with changes to habitats on other schemes."

In addition, the side slopes of the new road have deliberately not been covered with topsoil and grass.

David added:

"The idea is that the design take sustainability into consideration. By reducing the amount of topsoil spread onto the cutting slopes, we can give the local wild plants and flowers a better chance to colonise the area.

"It also has the added advantage of reducing future maintenance needs and minimises the use of valuable topsoil".

Other features incorporated into the design of the road include badger tunnels and a fish pass to allow spawning fish to move upstream. New native trees are being planted on the site and waste material from the local china clay industry has been used in the road construction, reducing the amount of material quarried and transported long distances.

The £42 million, one-and-a-half mile (three kilometre) dual carriageway bypass includes new local roads and junctions and a new roundabout connecting the village to the re-routed A38 and the A390 to St Austell. Work started in winter 2006 and is due to finish in the autumn of this year.

Through-traffic at Dobwalls will ultimately be reduced by 90% making a safer and quieter environment for villagers. The new road will also help to boost the South West's tourism and business economy, by improving journey time reliability for vehicles travelling across Cornwall.

Notes to Editors

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It manages, maintains and improves England's motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. The £42 million contract was awarded on xxx to xxx, who are carrying the work on behalf of the Highways Agency.

3. Real -time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:

* From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".

* On the internet at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo

* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).

3. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.

4. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY BY THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF INFORMATION SOUTH WEST.

Client ref WW195/SWW/08

COI ref 159798P